DENVER — Jamal Murray’s strained hamstring is on the mend. So are his two sprained ankles. He’s feeling increasingly like smooth-scoring playoff Murray.
The Denver guard completed with 22 factors, going 4 for 4 from 3-point vary, to assist the Nuggets race previous the short-handed Dallas Mavericks 130-104 on Monday night time.
“I’m doing fine. I can’t complain,” Murray mentioned of his rhythm after being out and in of the lineup and lacking 15 video games this season for the reigning NBA champions. “I think we’re still just trying to, not find our rhythm, but all be on the court healthy at one time.”
Aaron Gordon tied a season excessive with 21 factors, whereas Nikola Jokic added eight factors, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in a recreation the place the Nuggets starters obtained the fourth quarter off. The Denver bench outscored the Mavericks reserves by a 62-34 margin. The Nuggets had 4 gamers in double figures, led by Reggie Jackson with 18.
“I thought our bench was really good tonight,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone mentioned. “That group played the right way, building good habits.”
Leading 77-70 with 6:48 remaining within the third, the Nuggets pulled away on the power of a 21-10 run to shut out the quarter, bouncing again from a house loss to Oklahoma City over the weekend.
PHOTOS: Murray scores 22 factors as Nuggets race by Doncic and Mavericks 130-104
“They were playing great,” mentioned Luka Doncic, who had 38 factors and 11 rebounds regardless of feeling below the climate. “But everybody played great on their team. They were just sharing the ball. There was a lot of open shots for them. They played a really good game.”
Denver’s technique in opposition to the Mavericks was easy: Keep pushing the tempo. The Nuggets held a 32-11 benefit in fast-break factors.
“We just felt like we could get out and run – especially at home, at altitude,” defined Murray, who averaged 26.1 factors within the playoffs final season. “We did a good job of trying to keep them off-balance.”
Doncic scored 22 factors within the second quarter to maintain Dallas shut. He additionally had 11 rebounds. The Mavericks had been lacking Kyrie Irving (heel), Josh Green (elbow), Maxi Kleber (toe) and Dereck Lively II (ankle).
“When we can’t score and we can’t get stops, that’s not a great recipe to win,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd mentioned. “We have to be better.”
Tim Hardaway Jr. made two 3-pointers to maneuver previous his father, Tim Hardaway Sr., for forty fourth on the league’s profession 3-pointers checklist.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope completed with 9 factors in his return to the lineup after lacking two video games whereas being in concussion protocol. He additionally helped cool off Doncic, who went 3 of 8 within the second half. Doncic was 10 of 16 within the first half.
Jokic and Markieff Morris had been on the ground in opposition to one another for the primary time since their scuffle on Nov. 8, 2021. In that recreation, Morris, who was with the Miami Heat on the time, elbowed Jokic within the midsection at half courtroom. Jokic retaliated with a tough shove from behind together with his higher arm/shoulder that knocked Morris to the ground. Morris ended up lacking 4 months as a consequence of whiplash. Jokic drew a one-game suspension.
UP NEXT
Mavericks: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
Nuggets: Start a three-game journey Wednesday at Toronto.
